How to get there: The importance of selfmotivation and plain hard work!
hours until such time as you can “buy down” your time with external funding (or internal funding for significant teaching or administrative functions for the university). In the past, many individuals started out with protected time and lost it if it was not used productively, however, it is more common presently for new faculty to begin with a larger amount of clinical time, which they subsequently pare down in return for demonstration of academic productivity.
The majority of individuals who have attained the rank of Professor have managed to stay (alive and) productive for a long enough time period in an academic environment that eventually they created a niche area of expertise that was personally rewarding, fun, and of value to the larger medical community. Over time, opportunities come their way, and they put in the time and effort required to accomplish each assigned task. Before long, the individual amasses accomplishments and is offered (punished with?) even more opportunities to contribute in a meaningful manner at the regional and national (and eventually international) levels. Becoming a full professor is not about brilliance; it is rather the embodiment of Thomas Edison’s remark that “there is no substitute for hard work.” If one reviews the SAEM website listing of the approximately 270 current full professors in Emergency Medicine, if you have been around any length of time in our specialty, you will recognize virtually every name. These are individuals who have worked hard over many years, representing our specialty in any number of venues that reflect much accomplishment in scholarship, research, educational and administrative/leadership.
It is important that the developing academician narrow their focus to a limited area of specialization with the goal of becoming a leading authority in a specific content area. The choice of content area often occurs serendipitously based on an individual’s prior life experiences or talents. The most important thing is to find an area that is “fun,” read everything you can about the subject, and attend meetings and conferences related to the topic. Ask questions of the experts and those presenting papers at educational meetings. Find someone to mentor you who is knowledgeable in this area and has attained a track record of success, preferably within your own academic institution. However, they do not have to be in Emergency Medicine. Some of the most successful academic emergency physicians have collaborated with educators and scientists from other departments/fields from their own and often other universities. You must eventually identify a research topic in which you can answer an important question that is relevant to the field. Join interest groups relating to the subject and make every effort to have your name considered when regional, national, or international committee positions become available. Look for opportunities to give talks or presentations regarding your developing area of expertise. Get yourself out there. You have to be known in order to be promoted up the academic ladder.
More often than not, the academician who is successful enough to achieve the rank of Professor will possess many (not necessary to have all- nobody is perfect) of these features: 1.
Initiative, self-motivation
2.
Strong work ethic (more coming on this)
3.
Reliability
4.
Punctuality in meeting deadlines
5.
Team spirit
6.
Organized, efficient
7.
Technologically competent
8.
Stays at the cutting edge
9.
Appreciation for any opportunities that are provided by others
Lastly, the need to network and collaborate with others is vital to your success in the academic environment. It is difficult and one will fail if they operate in an academic vacuum. The extent to which an individual can network and collaborate will dictate their success. Multidisciplinary collaboration within the same or outside one’s own institution is the hallmark of the modern scientist, educator and others who contribute to the creation and dispersal of new knowledge. For those in traditional academics, collaboration will usually make it easier to obtain research grant support. And of course, when it comes time for promotion and tenure review, collaborators make perfect external departmental candidates to sit on one’s Promotion and Tenure Review Committee. External collaborators from other national and international medical centers can provide letters of recommendation that will support the contention that the professorial candidate is, in fact, nationally (and internationally) well known.
10. Willingness to collaborate 11. Willingness to help and mentor others It is a common misconception that one can be successful in an academic environment working a 40-hour week as long as there is sufficient “protected time.” This is a myth. Most academicians who have attained the rank of Associate Professor or higher average 60 or more hours per week over their entire academic career. You’ve got to love this job, and the environment in which you work, as you will work longer hours for far less money than your colleagues in the community setting. Significant “protected time” for academic endeavors is important to have if an individual is to be successful in an academic career, but you will have to earn it, which means working significant clinical
“Playing smart” in the promotion process Faculty members are responsible for tracking their academic progress and must develop and maintain an academic and 47